Ademola Lookman, freshly crowned Africa Player of the Year 2024, has embarked on an ambitious journey with Atalanta to Saudi Arabia, where the Italian Super Cup will be contested in a high-stakes mini-tournament, Soccernet.football reports.
The Nigerian star and his teammates departed Bergamo on Tuesday, New Year’s Eve, setting their sights on the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, which will host the competition for the fifth time.
The 37th edition of the Supercoppa Italiana features an exciting new format, including Serie A winners Inter Milan, Coppa Italia champions Juventus, and runners-up AC Milan and Atalanta. This is Atalanta’s maiden appearance in the Supercoppa, a feat secured after finishing as runners-up in last season’s Coppa Italia.
Atalanta will face Serie A champions Inter Milan in the first semifinal on Thursday, January 2, while AC Milan take on Juventus the following day. The winners of both matches will clash in the final for the coveted trophy.
Lookman, a key figure for Atalanta, has consistently delivered for La Dea, earning the club’s Player of the Season award two years in a row. His heroics last May in the Europa League final, where he scored a hat-trick to secure Atalanta’s first European title against Bayer Leverkusen, cemented his status as a club icon.
This season, the 27-year-old winger has already netted 12 goals and provided six assists in 21 appearances across all competitions. His exceptional form saw him crowned Africa’s finest footballer in December, a recognition of his remarkable contributions both at club and international levels.
However, while Lookman gears up for the Super Cup, his compatriot Samuel Chukwueze will miss AC Milan’s campaign.
Chukwueze, who sustained an injury during Milan’s 1-1 draw with AS Roma on Sunday, remains sidelined in Italy as his teammates prepare for action in Riyadh.
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) December 31, 2024